Ball cable clamp

ABSTRACT

A cable clamp for attaching the tuning cable of a compound bow to an arrow rest cable. The cable clamp has a preferably ball-shaped body with a slot for receiving the tuning cable and the arrow rest cable. A fastener such as a screw is used to clamp the tuning cable to the arrow rest cable within the receiving slot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the sport of archery, compound bows exist which, unlike standard longbows, comprise a plurality of pulleys. The pulleys cooperate with tuningcables and the bowstring to enable an archer to hold the bowstring in adrawn position with ease.

Compound bows can be used with various types of arrows. Arrows typicallyhave three or more feathers or vanes, which are commonly known asfletching. The fletching may extend radially outward perpendicularlyfrom the arrow shaft. Alternatively, the fletching may extend radiallyoutward from the shaft while being helixed slightly to induce spin onthe arrow and thereby facilitate arrow flight.

Whether a compound bow is used for target shooting or hunting, it isdesirable that the flight of the arrow shot from the bow be as accurateas possible. A major factor affecting the accuracy of the arrow flightis the arrow rest upon which the arrow lies when loaded into the bow.That is, the fletching of the arrow often strikes the arrow rest whenthe arrow is released from the bow, thus impeding the smooth flight ofthe arrow.

Numerous arrow rests exist, each being designed to minimize contact withthe arrow fletching and/or to compensate for the deflection of the arrowas it passes over the arrow rest. Often, an archer will choose arrowshaving a fletching configuration best suited for use with a particulartype of arrow rest or vice versa.

Compound bows normally have two or more lengths of cable trained overlimb cable wheels or cams and spanning the length of the bow close toand about parallel to the bowstring. Previous arrow rest designs havecooperated with the tuning cables to raise the arrow to a shootingposition when the bowstring is drawn back and to move out of the way ofthe arrow fletching when the bowstring is released. In many cases, thelinkage between the arrow rest and the tuning cables has been a cable orstring. The cable or string must be securely attached to the tuningcable.

The present invention addresses the problem of securely attaching thearrow rest cable or string to the tuning cable by means of a simpleclamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a compound bow having a bowstring, tuning cables, and a movable arrowrest, and an arrow rest cable connecting the arrow rest to the tuningcables, a cable clamp for attaching the tuning cables to the arrow restcable, the cable clamp comprising:

(a) a clamp body;

(b) a tuning cable and arrow rest cable receiving slot within the clampbody; and;

(c) a fastener for securely clamping the tuning cable and arrow restcable within the receiving slot.

A principle object and advantage of the present invention is that thecable clamp can be used with any type of arrow rest cable or tuningcable.

Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is thatit can be used to simply attach the arrow rest cable to the tuningcable.

Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is thatno bow press is needed for assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the invention in use with an arrowrest.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention with threads shown indashed lines.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken at approximately the lines 4 of FIG. 3,showing a fastener screwed into the clamp body.

FIG. 5 is the same as FIG. 4, but also shows the fastener securelyholding a tuning cable and arrow rest cable within the clamp body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the invention in the context in which it is used. Acompound bow, B, has tuning cables, T, substantially as previouslydescribed. A movable arrow rest, R, is mounted to the bow B. Connectingthe movable arrow rest R to the tuning cables T is an arrow rest cableC. It will be understood that the bow B, tuning cables T, movable arrowrest R, and arrow rest cable C may be any type previously or currentlyavailable and do not form part of the present invention.

The present invention is a cable clamp 10 that attaches the tuningcables T to the arrow rest cable C.

The cable clamp 10 comprises a clamp body 12, a tuning cable and arrowrest cable receiving slot 14 within the clamp body 12, and a fastener 16for securely clamping the tuning cable T and the arrow rest cable Cwithin the receiving slot 14.

Preferably, the clamp body 12 is substantially spherical, that is, theclamp is ball-shaped. However, any other geometry that achieves thefunction of the invention is also covered by the claimed invention.

Preferably, the fastener 16 is threadably engaged to the receiving slot14. However, the fastener 16 may also engage the receiving slot 14 inother manners, such as by friction fit, pins, or other equivalent, aslong as the fastener 16 holds the tuning cable T and arrow rest cable Csecurely within the slot 14 against the high tension resulting fromdrawing the bowstring.

To that end, the fastener 16 is most preferably a screw 16 a that istightened securely within the threaded slot 14, pressing the tuningcable T and arrow rest cable C tightly against the back of the slot 14.In the preferred embodiment, to provide the needed torque without therisk of stripping a screw head, the screw head 16 b has a slot 16 c forreceiving an Allen wrench.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materialssimilar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods andmaterials are described below. All publications, patent applications,patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated byreference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law andregulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, includingdefinitions, will control.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it istherefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made tothe appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicatethe scope of the invention.

1. In a compound bow having tuning cables, a movable arrow rest, and anarrow rest cable connecting the arrow rest to the tuning cables, a cableclamp for attaching the tuning cables to the arrow rest cable, the cableclamp comprising: (a) a clamp body; (b) a tuning cable and arrow restcable receiving slot within the clamp body; and; (c) a fastener forsecurely clamping the tuning cable and arrow rest cable within thereceiving slot.
 2. The cable clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp body issubstantially spherical.
 3. The cable clamp of claim 1, wherein thefastener is threadably engaged to the receiving slot.
 4. The cable clampof claim 3, wherein the fastener is a screw.
 5. The cable clamp of claim4, wherein the screwhead has a slot for receiving an Allen wrench.
 6. Ina compound bow having tuning cables, a movable arrow rest, and an arrowrest cable connecting the arrow rest to the tuning cables, a cable clampfor attaching the tuning cables to the arrow rest cable, the cable clampcomprising: (a) a substantially spherical clamp body; (b) a tuning cableand arrow rest cable receiving slot within the clamp body; and; (c) afastener for securely clamping the tuning cable and arrow rest cablewithin the receiving slot.
 7. The cable clamp of claim 6, wherein thefastener is threadably engaged to the receiving slot.
 8. The cable clampof claim 7, wherein the fastener is a screw.
 9. The cable clamp of claim8, wherein the screwhead has a slot for receiving an Allen wrench. 10.In a compound bow having tuning cables, a movable arrow rest, and anarrow rest cable connecting the arrow rest to the tuning cables, a cableclamp for attaching the tuning cables to the arrow rest cable, the cableclamp comprising: (a) a substantially spherical clamp body; (b) a tuningcable and arrow rest cable receiving slot within the clamp body; and;(c) a threaded fastener for securely clamping the tuning cable and arrowrest cable within the receiving slot.
 11. The cable clamp of claim 10,wherein the fastener is a screw.
 12. The cable clamp of claim 11,wherein the screwhead has a slot for receiving an Allen wrench.